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Freshwater Wetlands

By: Zach Ross & Kevin Durant

What are Freshwater Wetlands?

Fresh water wetlands are pieces of land that are covered by shallow water. Marshes, ponds, the edge of lakes and rivers are all examples of wetlands. Some wetlands can dry up for part of the year so animals that live there may have to be able to survive in a more swampy area with less water. If the animal cannot survive in that kind of area it is forced to switch to a different pond. There are plenty of animal that live in these wetlands even some types of birds. Wetlands have commonly been mistaken for diseased filled wastelands and have been drained or filled with buildings. The effect of that is worse flood control and bad water purification.

Types of Freshwater Wetlands:

Swamp

• Wooded Marsh
• Supports trees, tall shrubs, herbs, mosses
• Contains still and gently flowing water
• Animal life includes frogs, fish, lizards, snakes, birds, etc.
• Reptiles/Amphibians usually stay in the pools of water
• Birds home in the trunks of trees and hardwoods

Pond

• Fed by snowstorms/rainfall
• Water lilies on the surface
• Pond weeds and plants under the surface
• Filled with stagnant water
• Animals include birds, fish, frogs, insects, turtles, etc.
• Calm water, little to no waves makes ponds non-active and easy for animals to live

Marsh

• Found near river or lake
• Over grown with coarse grasses, sedges, and rushes
• Dependent on rainfall, runoff, and flooding
• Ducks, turtles, mink, otter, heron, some regions may have alligators
• Animals receive great food supply, protection from predators, and nesting sites at marshes
• Birds use it as migration areas

Peat Bogs

• Poorly drained area covered by mats of moss
• 2 types of peatbogs are bogs and fens
• Bog is more acidic than a fen
• Contain carnivorous plants that have adapted by using insects as food
• Special insects stay in bogs
• Used for industrial coal deposits

Physical traits of Freshwater Wetlands

• Shallow water on top of surface
• Saturated soil
• Salt water or fresh water
• Separated patches of grass or moss throughout some water

Works Cited:
http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/wetlands/what.htm
http://www.digitalsportsman.com/wetlands/fresh.htm
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/about/habitat_types/habitats/freshwater_wetlands/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp#Ecology
http://42explore.com/pond.htm
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep7h.htm
http://www.backyardgardener.com/article/green/896.htm
Picture Citation:
http://www.greglasley.net/Images/Cypress%20Swamp%200004.jpg
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/Village_Pond.jpg
http://www.floridiannature.com/Fresh%20Water%20Marshes2b.jpg
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2008/11/12/1226491796765/Highland-Peat-Bog-001.jpg